Surrounding yourself with difficult people could shorten your lifespan, according to new research published in the journal PNAS. A study by researchers from various U.S.-based universities examined how “hasslers”—people who often cause problems or social difficulties—impact aging and mortality. Based on a sample of more than 2,000 Indiana participants 18 years and older, nearly 30% of individuals reported having a “hassler” in their network.
Using biological clocks that measure age-related changes to DNA, the researchers found that the presence of hasslers was linked to accelerated aging, higher inflammation, more chronic conditions, and worse mental health. For each additional hassler, there was about a 1.5% increased pace of aging and about a nine-month older biological age. People more likely to report hasslers included women, daily smokers, people in worse health, and those with adverse childhood experiences. Not all hasslers exert the same influence: blood relatives and non-blood relatives both showed detrimental associations, but spouse hasslers did not. Blood-related hasslers are harder to avoid, making them “stronger chronic stressors,” according to the study, while spouse hassler relationships may mix negative and positive exchanges.
“We found that they are not just stressful; they are associated with measurable acceleration in biological aging at the molecular level, along with higher inflammation, depression, anxiety and chronic disease burden,” said Byungkyu Lee, study co-author from NYU’s Department of Sociology. The study suggests that reducing exposure to people who consistently create stress or conflict may benefit health, though this is not always realistic since many relationships involve family members deeply embedded in daily life. Community-based programs that expand social circles through shared hobbies, volunteering, or mutual aid may be beneficial. “Broadening and diversifying one’s network may be one way to offset some of the biological toll associated with chronic relationship stress,” Lee noted.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.foxnews.com/health/toxic-people-your-life-may-have-hidden-health-impact-study-suggests